I bought a copy on Friday when I came across it in Woolworths and will probably finish reading in the next two or three days. It's fascinating reading though for her experiences. I was surprised to discover that it's 2nd in the paperback non-fiction bestseller lists though - I assumed that Woolworths had it because that branch is so near a big hospital with a big maternity unit (the Whittington at Archway).

I just finished this book and I have to say it really heightened my desire to have a homebirth! really brought home to me how women for generations have been having babies without hospital intervention.was fascinated by the prem baby story!

There are two further volumes coming though I don't think either are out yet.

There's lots of bits which are fascinating though - apparently midwives were taught then in formal classes re the benefits of bottle feeding but the midwives in the book - Jenny (the author) and the order of nuns practising midwifery that she trains with, go with the instinct to encourage breastfeeding when they see it.

Certainly I think those who were lucky enough to come under the care of the nuns and their trainees were quite fortunate, but it's pretty clear from the book that normal practice has come on a bit since then.

Read this and love! Love! LOVE! it. I'm a student midwife and, like Waggledancer, found the differences very interesting. I also found it interesting as my grandmother had children in post-war London...I just wish she was here to ask her about her experiences

Thanks for recommending this book, BohemianB, very enjoyable. I did think it ended rather abruptly, though!! I was born in the 50's but Jenny's Docklands world seems to reflect a completely different world to mine, more akin to the 1930's. I shall be giving my copy to my mum, she'll love it.

It's top of my 'to read' pile. I can't wait to start now that everyone says it's good.

I bought it because one of my earliest memories of living in the East End is the midwife coming to our house to deliver my baby brother in 1959. She was really strict and scary and shooed my dad and me out to wander the streets for what seemed like hours. When we came home she allowed me to get into bed with my mum for a cuddle with my new brother. Aaaaaah